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Friday,
August 10- August 24,
2007, #152 (1419)
By Ana Kvrivishvili A council of elders convened in the breakaway South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali August 8, for a meeting arranged by de facto South Ossetian president Eduard Kokoity. The meeting was attended by figures from North Ossetia and Tbilisi as well as breakaway South Ossetia. Among the participants was Georgia's Communist Party leader, Panteleimon Giorgadze. The elders discussed the policies of the Georgian government, criticizing President Mikheil Saakashvili and the current political course of his regime. Giorgadze-father of Igor Giorgadze, who was forced into exile in Russia after being accused of trying to assassinate former president Eduard Shevardnadze-stated that the current Georgian government is unable to effect a lasting peace. "Never in the time of the current regime of Georgia…in conditions of such unprepared and unrestrained people, can peace ever exist," Giorgadze stated. The gathering of elders is an ancient tradition in the Caucasus, emerging out of clan societal structures. The elders' decisions were usually greatly respected by the people, and sometimes by the nobles. Even today, a council of elders can wield some political influence. Analysts suggest Kokoity organised the gathering to demonstrate some solidarity among anti-Georgian elders and to promote a pro-Russian and pro-secessionist sentiment among South Ossetians. Additionally, he probably hoped to demonstrate to the international community a level of hostility in the Caucasus toward Saakashvili's regime. Giorgadze used the meeting to reiterate his pro-Moscow stance, and, some observers say, to raise his profile in Georgia at a time when he carries little domestic political weight.
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Council
of dissident elders convenes in Tskhinvali